Pet insurance - yay or nay?

[NZflygirl]

So my first dog ever is now 6 and a half years old and when I first got her I thought about pet insurance and talked to some people in the dog park as you do about costs etc. I think insurance was then $23/month which I thought was a lot and the likelihood of anything happening very small. She's always been a well doggy and was tearing around the park prior to her operation.

She had an operation last week with her teeth descaled/polished requiring an anaesthetic and she had some weird small skin thing which had popped up while I was away that didn't seem to be getting worse or better and a tiny lump by her knee, vet said it could be a mast cell tumour? That cost $643. And the skin thing is all fine, it's a nothing.

Then she became unwell 2 days after the operation, she was shaking, breathing hard and fast so took her to the vet and started antibiotics and rimadyl for her fever costing $114 but they didn't know the cause. Watched her over the weekend and she didn't seem as hot but not really perking up back to normal. She seemed worse last night and not interested in cheese or yummy stuff. I didn't know if she could get through the night until the morning when it's cheaper to take her to the vet so went in. They did some bloods and said something about a possible immune mediated disease and they would transfer her to a specialist this morning which of course is going to cost somewhere in the vicinity of $1-2000 and it's already been $800 for the after hour visit. I'm thinking I should have brought her home until the morning to lessen that cost somewhat.

I also cancelled my trip away where I was going to jump on QR's A380 and A350 at the last minute as I was potentially going to have to make a decision on amputating the dogs leg if it was this tumour and being on the other side of the world just didn't appeal.

Putting numbers into the pet insurance calculator she would cost $70/month at her current age for full cover.

I don't even have private health insurance myself as it seems to be a con. The costs go up and if you really have something wrong with you it may get to a point where it's unaffordable and you end up in the public system anyway.

They say if you're going to have a pet then treat it like one of the family - but then it's really weird weighing up a 'family member's' health with costs.

Although I'm regretting not getting pet insurance right now I'm still not sure I'd pay for it in the future.

Note to self - start looking for travel insurance policy that includes dog as a family member......:-|

How many of you pet lovers have pet insurance? And is that based on previous health costs with pets or the peace of mind train of thought?

 

[bam71]

We had it for our dear Zelda the wonder dog ( Staffordshire Bull Terrier) for around 8 years through RSPCA. They never paid a claim over that time, constantly stating that any conditions she had were hereditary or just not covered. There was one instance where they were willing to pay a claim but wanted all of her vet records for her lifetime. We supplied that but they didn't believe us - claim denied.( We had the top cover). After we did the sums on her eighth renewal we decided not to renew, as it getting more and more expensive the older the got. A month later she was diagnosed with cancer ( mast cell tumours). We took solace in the fact that the $$ we would have wasted on her insurance we could put towards her treatment. 2.5 yrs and $25K later she was cancer free, the chemo barely affected her. We had to put her down in January this year due to a heart failure issue. We now have Matthew ( the Matt Factor), 4 months old now, also a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We have decided NOT to get him insurance, we'll just deal with anything ourselves and not waste time and money on policy's claims they try and wiggle out of. Happy to stand corrected though, and also happy to have my mind changed if others have had more success in putting in claims.

 

[Deleted member]

My mum always said, "if you can't afford the vet, don't buy the pet"
I love dogs, and Mrs GPH and I are "in loco Parentis" for my daughters two Maine Coon Cats.
I'm fairly sure we don't have pet insurance, and while I love animals, I won't spend $000's on medical bills to keep a very ill animal (who may also be in pain) alive, just so that I don't feel guilty.
Being a pet owner is a responsibility that many people don't understand, but the love and companionship I received from my wee dog is one of my most cherished memories.
So in short, if you find a good quality insurer, pay the money, pets are like cars, buying them is the cheap part, caring for them is where the major cost is.
I do feel for you and your dilemma.
So I'm in the Yea camp

Gone, but not forgotten. Lexie.

 

[NZflygirl]

We had it for our dear Zelda the wonder dog ( Staffordshire Bull Terrier) for around 8 years through RSPCA. They never paid a claim over that time, constantly stating that any conditions she had were hereditary or just not covered. There was one instance where they were willing to pay a claim but wanted all of her vet records for her lifetime. We supplied that but they didn't believe us - claim denied.( We had the top cover). After we did the sums on her eighth renewal we decided not to renew, as it getting more and more expensive the older the got. A month later she was diagnosed with cancer ( mast cell tumours). We took solace in the fact that the $$ we would have wasted on her insurance we could put towards her treatment. 2.5 yrs and $25K later she was cancer free, the chemo barely affected her. We had to put her down in January this year due to a heart failure issue. We now have Matthew ( the Matt Factor), 4 months old now, also a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We have decided NOT to get him insurance, we'll just deal with anything ourselves and not waste time and money on policy's claims they try and wiggle out of. Happy to stand corrected though, and also happy to have my mind changed if others have had more success in putting in claims.

I have to admit I absolutely hate looking at the nitty gritty of any policies and often want someone to just tell me what I want to know in lay mans terms. I know that will probably burn me one day.

Reassuring to hear your dog made it through the cancer treatment as that was running through my mind as well before we got the skin result back. The $$ hurts. Makes me feel a bit better that you think pet insurance wasn't worth it in your case although sounds like that's from the company wiggling out of paying. That is one of my fears I guess that you pay all this money and they find a way out of it and as you say - you could have put that towards treatment costs. Time for me to dip into the savings.

 

[Cynicor]

Petplan was the only company I found that had consistently good recommendations. I had insurance for both my cats at the mid level policy, until I realised that indoor cats rarely get unwell and if they do I could self insure at the rate I was paying for the 2 of them. I've set my own level of comfort for emergent vet bills on top of the usual preventative stuff, and doing the sums I would be up within a few years.

I think it is a must have for dogs. They are more prone to getting unwell, needing operations and live in a more uncontrolled environment. On the whole they are also a bit sillier about what they eat and so get sick much more frequently!

 

[bam71]

I think it is a must have for dogs. They are more prone to getting unwell, needing operations and live in a more uncontrolled environment. On the whole they are also a bit sillier about what they eat and so get sick much more frequently!

Agree, but part of our decision to not insure was that we live in a unit, so a VERY controlled environment, with no real opportunity for eating something skan_y or getting bitten by a spider

 

[Pushka]

I agree re insurance for dogs. They seem far more prone to illness. As an indoor cat one of ours has only cost us for immunisations and health checks. And one poop test. The other cat who was an outside one cost us a bundle in emergency bills. She was a cat of 9 lives. And cost me $ in medical bills for bites and scratches.

 

[AnnaB]

At this stage I would say put that money towards a FN savings instead of an insurance. Considering that she has been into the vets for surgery and tests would probably just make the insurance companies deny your claim no matter what it is. The fine print is horrid when it comes to some of them and very breed specific as they all have different problems.

Our dog today doesn't have any, but considering he is 11 (toy poodle) no one will ever insure us. Besides the yearly needles, has been in for descaling a couple of times and he had major eye surgery last year. All extras adding up to about $3000 (so about $272 per year). I dont know why I never got one, I guess its because I have always had cats before and they were always healthy, but I guess you learn as you go.

If I had a new puppy today I would most definitely get insurance. Its just a way to make sure I can afford to give my family member (also known as pet) the best care possibly when and if needed. Then it would be starting with a clean bill of health and no arguments can be made of pre existing condition.

 

[Cynicor]

Agree re apartment dog, same as an indoor cat basically.

I know expense would not stop me treating my pets at all, but I could never put them through chemo or similarly painful/ongoing procedures. A human can understand but personally, I think I would merely be prolonging the animal's suffering to prevent my own unhappiness.

 

[coriander]

I agree that dogs seem to target the "big ticket" items.

Dogs tend to do expensive things like rupturing their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments, generally requiring a $4.5k operation. That's why you often have to have your vet do ACL fitness certification on your dog before they'll accept coverage. (Recently client of mine's Rottweiler ruptured both ACLs a few months apart; $9000...... and that was a follow up to having had both elbows operated on due to elbow dysplasia (OCD) (ca. $6000 and of course the obligatory gastric torsion as well - about $12000. I'm terrified to do any work on this dog due to the previously "sunk" costs.)

Most ongoing veterinary expenses nowadays are for dental work - periodontal disease has increased over the last 30 years and is now the number one health issue affecting both cats and dogs. Typically a full dental work up will cost $700-$1100 by the time you factor in pre-op blood tests, IV fluids, anaesthetic, etc.

Pet insurance companies in both the USA and AU have recognised this "alarming" (to them) trend and now specifically exclude dental work or heavily limit paying out on dental claims to $50-$100 per annum (you need to carefully check the insurance companies' PDSs). We've had a couple of clients discover this after presenting a claim.

 

[theblank]

Although I'm regretting not getting pet insurance right now I'm still not sure I'd pay for it in the future.

work out what the insurance will cost and pay that money into your own seperate bank account for the life of your dog and pay any medicals from that. There is a fair chance at the end, there is still money in that account, If there isnt, you were no worse off than if you never had self-insurance anyway.

I have never had private hospital insurance either, but I started my own hospital 'self insurance' myself a year or so ago.

 

[Spongbob]

The annoying thing for all the policies I have checked is the exclusion of cats that older than 7 years age.

 

[bam71]

Agree re apartment dog, same as an indoor cat basically.

I know expense would not stop me treating my pets at all, but I could never put them through chemo or similarly painful/ongoing procedures. A human can understand but personally, I think I would merely be prolonging the animal's suffering to prevent my own unhappiness.

When we first heard the word "chemo" we were thinking the same as you - but the chemo was pills - 2 pills three times a week, albeit with some serious instructions on handling them and some kickass gloves. She knew once she took her pills she would get a doggy choc, so she had no issue. Every month or so the only side effect was loose stools with a bit of blood, and we would take her off her pills for a week, and she would get back to normal. She didn't suffer at all through the treatment, it wasn't an issue, we would never have put her through any ongoing painful or distressing procedures. And because of it all she got an extra 5 years being able to eat her favourite food - CHICKEN!

 

[Warks]

Is pet insurance an excuse for vets to increase their prices? If it's expensive they can say "well you should have had insurance". It was unheard of twenty years ago I'm sure as the procedures were nowhere near as costly and I'm guessing pets were put down more often than not when it was something complicated to rectify. We hadn't had pets for a long time and I was shocked at how much even the simplest things were at the vet when we had to go back, having got on the pet merry-go-round again.

 

[Hvr]

The annoying thing for all the policies I have checked is the exclusion of cats that older than 7 years age.

And with my cat rapidly approaching that age insurance was never a real consideration for her. She is an indoor cat who is fed properly and moves about very well. She is more stressed by the trip to the vet than any treatment they provide so I use the home visit vet.

Her most recent examination was all ok including her teeth. So I'll keep looking after her and the occasional treat such as a raw chicken neck is good for her.

Also, because she was rescued I don't know her vet history until the day I took her home. I'm pretty sure she's been a mother but is now spayed.

Hopefully I'll outlive her and we both live long happy lives.

 

[Milboo]

Pet insurance has its pros and cons like any other insurance. I have never subscribed to the theory about putting aside the premium and using that - what if in month 5 of saving you need to call on it - well the $300 odd you have saved will not get you far!

I had it with my last dog (and the cat was insured at the same time too) - this was between 11-9 years ago so premiums were a fair bit lower then. Over his 21 months alive, I paid about $700 in premiums and got back about $6,000 in claims (based on an 80% payment vs paying an excess model policy) including for a long term illness and an emergency operation. So it was worthwhile. A friend claimed over $20,000 after accident and illness.

I started off with insurance on my puppy but ultimately cancelled it for the dog and the cat, particularly as my ability to afford vet bills increased but also they both got older they started getting 'loadings' - especially as I have a giant breed dog and I wanted to change insurers but was going to be hit by pre-existing conditions which ruled out a lot.

I know if I get a large bill then my vet would let me put it on account - I have been with him 11 years but I know many vets will not.

It pays to note that:
- all policies are underwritten by either Hollards or PetPlan - everything else is just retail fronts
- insurance is only worthwhile putting in place when they are a puppy or kitten as anything that they present with to the vet from then until you get insurance will be considered a pre-existing condition - so if you present to the vet with a puppy who got a contact allergy then they will be excluded for skin issues for life.
- there are watch outs in the policy - if you don't take them for annual check ups etc etc then they may not cover something like tooth extraction.

From memory Choice did an article on pet insurance that made some valid points.

***
All that aside - all the best with your dog. I know a little about immune mediated conditions as that is what my dog had.

 

[NZflygirl]

Still confusing yay or nay. I appreciate the reasons put forward by both camps.

Interestingly the receptionist at the vet says she doesn't have pet insurance despite everything she sees come through. My dog would not be insurable anymore. I see some 80% pay out policies with a bunch of exclusions. Might ask the vet and nurses what they think of insurance (and the billing lady).


Apparently we don't have a TEG? test available in NZ or the human labs won't run it for the dog as the vet is suspicious she could still have an immune mediated disease which requires a different treatment. I offered to take the sample to Australia if they tested it there but she didn't think she would get a result in time or even know how to package it.

She also had an ultrasound of her heart showing endocarditis with heart ok and valve not bad. Her platelets for clotting blood are ridiculously low which apparently could be early DIC? or immune mediated so she is getting plasma and now on 2 antibiotics. Hard to believe I had a normal happy dog last week and I was oblivious to any of this cough. I honestly didn't think about this stuff when getting a pet or thinking about pet insurance but who does? Hoping she turns a corner within the next 2 days.


Anyway, I'll apologise for any idiot posts in advance. AFF is good for many things but for me right now acting as a distraction.

 

[bam71]

If you want some serious veterinary care or advice, these guys are the bomb! Welcome to BVSC. and https://www.facebook.com/BVSCtheanimalhospital/ ( It's who we used for Zelda's cancer treatment).

They specialise in modifying human treatments to animal care, and work a lot with Pfizer. They gene sequenced Zelda looking for a specific genetic link to her cancer - and found it, hence her treatment was targeted to her condition. THey're not cheap by any stretch, but there were people all over Australia sending their pets to them to treatment. Might be worth getting some samples and popping over to Brisbane for a chat?

 

[Milboo]

Still confusing yay or nay. I appreciate the reasons put forward by both camps.

Interestingly the receptionist at the vet says she doesn't have pet insurance despite everything she sees come through. My dog would not be insurable anymore. I see some 80% pay out policies with a bunch of exclusions. Might ask the vet and nurses what they think of insurance (and the billing lady).


Apparently we don't have a TEG? test available in NZ or the human labs won't run it for the dog as the vet is suspicious she could still have an immune mediated disease which requires a different treatment. I offered to take the sample to Australia if they tested it there but she didn't think she would get a result in time or even know how to package it.

She also had an ultrasound of her heart showing endocarditis with heart ok and valve not bad. Her platelets for clotting blood are ridiculously low which apparently could be early DIC? or immune mediated so she is getting plasma and now on 2 antibiotics. Hard to believe I had a normal happy dog last week and I was oblivious to any of this cough. I honestly didn't think about this stuff when getting a pet or thinking about pet insurance but who does? Hoping she turns a corner within the next 2 days.


Anyway, I'll apologise for any idiot posts in advance. AFF is good for many things but for me right now acting as a distraction.

Is the vet suggesting Immune Mediated Haemalytic Anaemia?

 

[Flying mermaid]

We are now onto our third pair of mini dachshunds. The first two sets both lived for around 15 years each with minimal problems, so we never really considered pet insurance. The current pair (nearly 7 years old now), have been fairly disastrous - maybe $12,000 so far. However probably too late to insure and I keep telling myself our bad run must be over! We don't plan to have pets after these die, as we will be mid 70s then and I think we will content ourselves with grandpuppies.